The authors surveyed 112 recent alumni and 92 current residents (70% responded) at a residency program that requires original research. Most alumni felt that the research project was a valuable learning experience, particularly in improving their abilities to critically review the medical literature. Almost a third felt that it had influenced their career choices (academic medicine vs private practice). The overall learning value of no other residency program component was rated significantly higher than that of the research project. While 65% of current residents supported making the senior resident research project optional, 64% of alumni opposed this change (p<0.0001). These results support requiring formal oral presentations and encouraging original research projects as a part of residency training.